Local Viewpoints

9:38 am

Fri August 30, 2013

Pearce: Wolf Program Needs Less Federal Involvement

U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce criticized the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to expand the recovery program for the Mexican Gray Wolf in Arizona and New Mexico.

“After millions of dollars spent and over a decade of efforts, the Mexican Gray Wolf population has not recovered,” said Pearce. “But instead of saying ‘enough is enough’ and handing the program’s management over to the states, Washington is doubling down on what has proven to be a bad decision. Just last week, a rancher who had to shoot a wolf to protect his livestock was cleared only because of wolf bite marks on at least one of his animals. Countless New Mexican families live in fear of wolves attacking their children, pets, or livestock, or in fear of legal repercussions if they act to protect them.”

“Even worse, these decisions are not being made by the people, or even by elected officials, but by the special-interest lawyers at the Center for Biological Diversity,” Pearce continued. “It is outrageous and unacceptable that New Mexicans’ lives and livelihoods are being put at risk, and our tax dollars wasted, by the machinations of a radical group that lines its pockets by strong-arming the government and manipulating our laws. It is time to give the power back to the people of New Mexico—the people who have to live with the painful consequences of this reckless program.”

Last week, Pearce issued a statement highlighting the consequences of the wolf program.

Despite millions of dollars spent, the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program is an outright failure, with populations unable to come close to the recovery goals laid out by the US Fish and Wildlife Service—even as wolf populations elsewhere have thrived. Congressman Pearce has been a consistent opponent of continuing to pour money into an unsuccessful experiment that jeopardizes the lives and livelihoods of countless New Mexicans. Congressman Pearce believes that the management of the wolf population should be turned over to the state government.